Apr 22 2016
Silicone wristbands were once made popular by famous celebrities and athletes supporting certain charities. Researchers have now found another application for the bright and colorful bands – identifying what chemicals people are exposed to regularly. The research is the cover article in American Chemical Society’s weekly newsmagazine Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).
(Image credit: American Chemical Society)
Britt Erickson, a senior editor at C&EN, explains that for a long time, environmental scientists have been studying organic chemicals in the air, soil and water to establish if they are harmful. They used a number of tools, such as hand wipes and air monitors, to measure pesticides and other contaminants in homes, in the environment, and in human urine. However, these techniques are not economical, difficult for subjects to meet the terms, and do not identify all of the compounds a person is exposed to.
Many research projects spread across the US, Asia, Europe and Africa are providing their research participants with easy-to-wear silicone wristbands, from school-children to farmers.
The bands absorb chemicals from the environment, and researchers can later take the bands and examine chemicals that are trapped within them.
The data produced has provided crucial findings. A project focused on assessing the exposure of roofers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known to be carcinogenic, led to changes in the job-site. These personal monitors are likely to gain better traction as one company has taken up the task of making them available to the public.